Tub for washing machines



' J. J. woou. TUB FOR WASHING MACHINES. FILED Aus 10 I920 col "inventor: James J.

Hm AULQTH U ll etented Jan. 2%, lldfid.

aniline J. woon,

OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC eo vrnanv, A oorlroan'rron ornnw YORK.

run roe weer-tine MACHINES.

Application filed Auaust lfl, 1920. Serial No. 402,644

To all whom it may cmwem Be it known that 1, Litres J Woon, a citizen oi the United States, residing at Fort ll a ne, county of Allen, State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful In provements in Tubs for Washing Machines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to tubs for washing machines and specifically to that type which is moved bodily back and forth in avertical plane/and at the same time is given a rocking motion about a horizontal axis for the purpose of causing the water employed for washing to surge baclr and .ti'orth, said water having a path of move:

ment approximating a figure S, the axis 0t which is horizontal.

Owing); to the fact that a considerable weight otwater hasto be employed which is augmented by the weight oi the clothes being washed, the problem oi? pro iierly supporting a relatively thin sheet metal tub is not so simple as it wouldfirst ap pear. Fun

' thermore, the tub must be maintained water tight and "the securing means must be of such character asnotto injure the clothes or stain them with rust,etc.

The object o f my invention is to provide an im1n'oved arrangement for supporting; washing mzwhine tubsot the character described, which is strong and simple in. construction and one which will not injure the fabrics being washed.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the accompanying description and the claims appended thereto.

in the drawing, Fig. l is side elevation of a tub; Fig is an end view of the sarne, and Fig. is an enlarged detail view of one of the combined supports and securing de vices;

j 5 indicates a cast metal frame or end plate usually of iron, whose periphery cor responds more or less closely to that oil? the tub. Two of these frames are provided, one on each side of the tub, and. are generally similar. 6 indicates a frame n'iember which has an opening 7 at its upper end to receive a horizontal pivot, the latter being support ed by an oscillating arm, not shown. Branching outwardly from the upper end of the member are two braces 8 and 9. The

lower 'end of t ieniemberll is formed integral with the lower part of the main t 'ame and extent a below the same to receive a centralizing spring, not shown. Till indicates a boss containing an opening 1.1 to receive a pin carried by the upper end of a connecting rod, not shown, whereby the tub may be rocked or oscillated on its horizontal axis.

The tub 12 is made of relatively thin metal and its sides conform in general to the outline oi the frame. The bottom oi the tub has transversely extending flutes 13 which assist in. the washingoperation. The top, bottom and ends of the tub may be formed of one or more sheets of metal arranged to .ltill in the space between the sides.

'llhe joints betweenthe sides and said sheet or sheets should be so made as to be water tip-ht. Preferably the tub is made of relalllVi-Bl}; thin sheet copper and coated with tin on the inside to prevent corrosion or injury to the fabrics being; 'ashed. A. suitable removable cover is provided for the tub through which water and clothing: to be washed. are introduced. plngforthe water will also be employed.

A suitable drain To securely il asten the tub to the side frames and, to nevcnt buckling of tire sides it is necessary to provide a co]npa'rativelv large number out tlastenings. ()ne of these shown in enlarged section in Fig. 3. Before the side walls of the tub are united with the bottom, ends and top a series of holes are punched therein at the desired places. In stead of making simple holes the portion of the metal around each holeis forced outwardly to form a conical projection it? which when the parts are assembled fit into coni cal recesses in the side frames. These projections assist in holding tl tub in the frame because any tendency of the tub to move in a direction parallel. with the side members of the frame is resisted by them.

in other words these projections would have to be shearedv oil before any appreciable movement could take place. The projections also term seats For the screws "16 which seats being of copper are slightly yielding, and they also present a comparatively large amount of metal to the head of the screw without making the head of the latter unduly'large. The fact that each projection is as compared to the diamet extends well into a smooth conical. in the frame i'neans that the pack' g surface er of the screw and owing to the tapered head on the screw the metal of the tub is tightly wedged between said head and the seat, thereby forming a water tight seal. Furthermore, since the heads of the screws are countersunk, that is to say, are flush with the wall as distinguished from projecting into the tub, they cannot injure the fabric being washed. I

Opposite each screw the frame is pro vided with a small enlargement 17, the purpose of which is to provide suflicient metal to receive ,the threads of the screws without the same projecting through the frame and also to avoid the necessity of making the frame heavier than is otherwise necessary. After the tub is mounted in the frame and secured in place by the screws, the heads of of the latter are covered with solder 18 which not only makes certain that there will be no leakage around the screw heads but prevents the same from working loose. The solder should be applied in such manner that the exposed surface is perfectly smooth. It will be observed that the peripheral'portion of the tub issecured to the frame members by a plurality of fastenings and also that the sides of the tub are secured to the braces and in this manner the tub as a whole is securely held in place and the sides are also held against buckling.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

hat I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States. is:

1. A washing machine tub comprising a pair of side frames, each having a 'iluralitv of recesses, a sheet metal tub having hollow projections which enter said recesses, and means for securing the tub to the frames which extend through said projections into the side frames.

2. A washing machine tub comprising a pair of side f 'ames, each having a plurality of conical recesses, a sheet metal tub having hollow projections which enter said recesses,

and means which extend through the projections into the side frames and hold the walls of said projections in fiuid-tight contact with the walls of the recesses.

3. A washing machine tub comprising a pair of spaced frame members, the opposed surfaces of which have recesses, a sheet metal tub which is located between the frame members, said tub having outwardly extending hollow projections which fit into said recesses, and screws which extend outwardly from the tub and through the projections into the frame members, the heads of the screws holding the walls of the projections in fluid-tight contact with the walls of the recesses.

-jl-. A washing machine tub comprising i] pair of side frames, each having a plurality of conical recesses, a sheet metal tub having hollow conical projections which enter the recesses. screws which extend through the projections into the side frames, and hold the walls of said projections in fluid-tight contact with the walls of the recesses, and means covering the heads of the screws which prevent them from backing out and also prevent fluid from having access thereto.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto se my hand this 6th day of August, 1920.

JAMES J. WOOD. 

